Water-vapor-supply device for fuel charges of internal-combustion engines



Dec. 10, 1929. P. L. JONES 1,738,904

WATER VAPOR SUPPLY DEVICE FOR FUEL CHARGES OF 'INTERNAL GOM BUST.IONENGINES Flled July 2l 1926 Inv@ GPC

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'Patented Dec. 10, 1929 UNTED r Norion 'BERCY L. JONES, OF MEDFORD,MASSACHUSETTS Application tiled July 21, 1926. Serial No. 123,927.

This invention relates to a novel device for utilizing water vapor froma radiator to supply moisture to the Jfuel charge of an internalcombustion engin-e. The invention will be best understood by referenceto the following description when taken in connec tion with theaccompanying drawings of one speciiic embodiment thereof, while itsscope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

ln the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in vertical section of a portion of amotor vehicle having an internal combustion engine equipped with a watervapor supply device exemplifying' the invention;

litig. 2 is an elevation partly in vertical section or' the upperportion of the device showing part of the top of the radiator neck withthe vapor supply device mounted thereon;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 33 oi" Fig. 2; and

Fig'. 4 is a similar sectional view showing a slight modification oi theconstruction illus-` trated in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings and to the embodiment oi' the invention whichis selected tor exempliiication, and having reierence'at first to llig.1, there is snown a portion of a motor vehicle having an internalcombustion engine 5 to which the Yfuel charge is supplied by acarburetor 6, whence it is conducted by an intake manifold 7 to thecombustion chambers. The, engine cylinders have a water acket 8 whichcommunicates with a radiator 9 in the usual manner. The radiatorpresents a water reservoir for the cooling water which is circulatedthrough the water jacket. The radiator has a neck 10 (see Figs. 2 andthrough which water is introduced into the cooling system. An overflowpipe 11 (see Fig. 1) leading from the neck discharges at a convenientpoint therebelow, outside of the radiator. The engine and its cooiingsystem as thus far described are of usual and well-known construction.`

Attached to the radiator neck, as by a screw thread 12 is a cap 13comprising upper and lower sections 14.- and 15 hingedly connected as bya pintle 16. fin appropriate fastener, herein a wire bail 17 ot knownconstruction, normally secures the sections together. The upper sectionmay be liifted and turned about the axis of the pintle to permit theintroduction of water into the radiator. tdurmounting the cap, as thusconstituted, is a traine 18 having ahead 19, a neck 2() above the uppersection o1c the cap, and a reduced shank 21 which extends through thelatter. rihe shank is suitably secured to the upper section of the cap,as by a threading, to receive a nut 22 on the under or inner side ol'the upper section. Upper and lower gaskets 23 and 24 above and beiow theupper. section oi the cap and made ot suitable compressible material,prevent leakage through the joint where the shank passes through.

rlhe head 19 presents a chamber 25 and the neck and shank 21 present apassage 26 leading from the chamber and affording coni- CTL i'nunicationbetween the latter and the radil ator neck to permit vapor from theradiator to ascend into the chamber. This passage is rather restricted,that is to say, the crosssectional dimensions are considerably less thanthose oi" the radiator neck, as a result of which water splashing aboutin the radiator does not roach the chamber. The height ol" thc chamberis such that water which is splashed by motion of the car gravitatesfrom the neck u back to the body ot the radiator without danger ot itsreaching the vapor outlet pipe presently to be described.

l-lerein the vapor chamber is transparent walled to permit the water inthe chamber to be viewed it the radiator should boil over 'for anyreason, such as slipping or breaking of the izan belt, and normally toserve as a visual indication that the cooling system is functioningproperly. Herein the chamber has opposite openings Q7 covered bytransparent walls, herein glass plates 28, conveniently secured in placeby having their margins bevelled, as at 29, to receive correspondinglybevelled retaining plates conveniently secured to the traine., as byscrews 31. Gaskets 32 made of suitable coinpressible material reccivedin depressions 33 in the traine present cushioning abutments for theplates and pre vent leakage at the joints. The plates may readily bedismounted by removal of the screws 31 Vand retainingplates 30, therebyaffording access tothe chamber, should occasion require, .for theremoval of foreign mat* ter, and to enable the inner faces of the glassto be kept clean.

The lower portion of the chamber is provided with downwardly convergingsides 34 to vconduct back to the passage 2G and thence to the radiatorany water of condensation ywhich might forni in the chamber, and anywater which might enter the chamber if the radiator should boil over.The upper portion of the chamber is provided with upw rdly convergingsides 35, and at a point adjacent the apex formed by the intersection ofthese walls an inlet orifice 8G of a tube 37 provides an outlet for thevapor at an elevation sufficiently great to insure that. no watersplashed about in the radiator shall reach the inlet orifice.` y

The` vapor outlet pipe is conveniently placed `along two of the inclinedsurfaces 34 and 35, where it does not interfere with the full vision ofthe vapor chamber. This location ispreferred also because the device ismore .attractive withpa. clear opening from sideftoside of the vaporchamber.V

The vapor outlet tube in the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, leads in adownward direction through the neck 20 tothe exterior of the latter, andherein the neck isv provided with a laterally extending boss 38 in whichthe tube is appropriately secured. To the outer end of the tube there isattached a flexible tube 39 (see Fig. l)l adapted to be flexed when theupper section of thel hinged cap is swung to open the cap for theadmission of water to the radiator.

The other end of' the flexible tube is attached to a tube 40' leadingtothe intake manifold 7 preferably intermediate the carburetor and thecombustion chambers of the Y. l cylinders. Herein aA pipe is providedwith a 'iii radiator, whence it may be carried lthrough valve 4,1conveniently located near the operators osition as on an` instrumentboard 42 tojenable the amount of vapor supplied to the Vfuel charge tobe controlled at will. Y

. The modification illustrated in Fig. 4 is similar in most respects tothat hereinbefore described, exceptrthat the` vapor outlet pipe,

instead ofextending laterally through the neck of theframe, leadsdownwardly through the vapor inlet passage and through the radiator neckto a convenient point within the the radiator -wall` and thence to thecarburetor..y In this form, however, the cap, instead of beinghinged,.is simply secured on to the radiator neck, and must be unscrewedto enable the radiator to be filled with water. Then the cap is removed,of course, the vapor outlet pipe must yremain in place and mustnecessarily be straight, Vin order that the frame andY cap may be liftedclear of it.

In operation, the device supplies vapor to the fuel charge, therebytending to promote economy of operation of the engine and to minimizeaccumula-tion of carbon deposits in the combustion chamber withoutdanger of unvaporized water reaching the engine intake and interferingwith the operation of the engine.

Having thus described one embodiment of the invention, but withoutlimiting myself thereto, what I claim and desire by Letters Patent tosecure is:

l. In a vapor supply device for internal combustion engines, thecombination of a cap for attachment to a radiator to furnish the vapor',said cap comprising upper and lower hingedly connected sections, saidupper section presenting an opening, a frame having ahead and a. neckabove said upper section and a reduced shank extending through saidupper section and secured to the latter, said head presenting a chamberand said neck and shank prcsei'itingv a. passage leading from saidchamber through said neck and shank and adapted to permit vapor from theradiator to ascend into said chamber, said chamber having oppositelydisposed, transparent walls through which water may be viewed, saidchamber also having upwardly converging sides in its upper portion, anddownwardly converging sides in its lower portion, a tube having an inletorifice for vapor adjacent the upper portion of said chamber, said tubeextending' in a downward direction along one side of said chamber andthrough said'neck to the exterior, and a fiexible tube attached to theouter end of said conduit and adapted to be flexed when the uppersection of said hinged cap is swung to open said cap for the admissionof water to the radiator.

2. InY a vapor supply device for internal combustion engines, thecombination oi means presen g a vapor chamber having a lateral opening,a transparent wall estending across said opening', means providing forthe lateral removal of said wall to afford an.

vapor inlet conduit ,Y chamber. and a vapor outlet conduit lea f ing outof said channber.

3. In a fapor supply device for internal combustion engines, thecombination cf means presenting a vapor chamber, an inlet conduitthereto and an outlet conduit there from, said outlet conduit having aflexible portion, and ahinged mounting for said means, said mountinghaving provision for attachment to a radiator to .supply vapor throughsaid inlet conduit to said chan'iber.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

PERCY L. JONES.

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